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I bit my lip and looked away from him. My foot had been aching for days. Up until the point I’d had my first visit with my doctor, it had been doing well. But I’d been home, resting, and only doing minimal walking around my house throughout the day. Ever since that visit, I’d been up and moving around so much, not taking a break in between, and my foot wasn’t happy at all. But since I was so determined to get some answers, I ignored what I was feeling throughout the day, waited until I was home, and took some pain medication every evening.

“Okay, so change of plans for today,” Ty declared.

I snapped my head back in his direction. “What?”

“No investigating is happening today.”

“I could do something,” I reasoned, feeling a slight panic bubble up inside me. “Maybe just one visit.”

He shook his head. “Not today, Alana. I’m not the kind of guy who can go along with something if I know it’s actively causing you harm. Would the doctor approve of you doing any work today?”

“Probably not, considering he told me he’d like me to really try to rest and relax for the next two days, only getting up to move from the couch to the bed or to use the bathroom and take care of menial tasks like making myself meals,” I murmured.

“Okay, then let me bring you home and wait on you hand and foot while you take some time to rest,” Ty suggested.

I wasn’t quite sure what to say.

Never in a million years did I think a man like Ty would ever say something like that to me. In fact, other than my mom doting on me because it was the only thing that’d help her remain calm when I was younger and living at home, nobody had ever gone to such lengths to request I allow them to take care of me.

It was at that moment when my phone rang. I fished my hand around in my purse and pulled it out, not recognizing the number on the display. Normally, I would have ignored such acall, but since the number was local and I realized it could have been the doctor’s office calling me because I forgot something, I slid my finger across the screen and answered the call. “Hello?”

“Alana?”

Despite how different it was from the last time I heard it, I instantly recognized the soft, feminine voice. “Mrs. Fitzpatrick?”

“She’s awake. My Yasmine is finally awake for more than a few minutes at a time.”

I sent a wide-eyed look in Ty’s direction. “Are you serious?”

“It was a couple of hours ago, very early in the morning. It was still dark outside, but it was like my whole world had lit up. I can breathe just a little bit easier now.”

“Oh, I’m so happy to hear this news,” I told her, feeling myself grow emotional. “How is she doing? Can I come by to visit with her?”

“She’s doing okay, still very groggy. I’m sure she would love to see you, Alana. But if I’m honest, she’s really not in a state to visit with anyone yet. I’d recommend waiting a couple of days before coming here to see her. I just thought you’d want to know that she’s been steadily making improvements, and she’s finally really back with us.”

It was such a tremendous relief to hear that Yasmine was on the road to recovery. And to hear the change in Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s voice—it was like she’d had hundreds of pounds of weight removed from her shoulders—was encouraging.

As much as I wanted to see Yasmine, I’d respect her mother’s recommendation to give her a few days. “Will you call me when you think she’s ready for visitors?”

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you. This news has turned my whole day around; I’m so happy.”

“Me, too. But I should get back to her now.”

“Of course. Thank you so much for letting me know. I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon.”

The smile she was wearing could be heard in her voice. “You’re welcome, Alana. We’ll talk soon.”

Mrs. Fitzpatrick and I said goodbye to one another and disconnected our call. I hadn’t even tossed my phone back into my purse when Ty asked, “Yasmine’s awake?”

I beamed at him, feeling my eyes get wet. “She is.”

His features softened, and he reached his hand out to the side of my face. Ty stroked his thumb gently over the apple of my cheek. “I’m glad your friend is doing better.”

Maybe it was my emotions. Maybe it was Ty. But I pressed my cheek into his hand, loving the way it felt. “Thank you, Ty. Thank you for being here with me.”

His thumb stroked over my cheek once more, the tender touch a whisper of comfort and affection. “Can I take you home now?”

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